Style
Beauty And The Beholder: 9 Models Talk Body Image & Self-Confidence
We chat with models across the globe about their experiences navigating beauty standards in a notoriously brutal business – all while maintaining a positive self-image
The fashion industry is a force to be reckoned with, and none of its glitz and glam would be possible without the people who model the designers’ clothes, and who so often are the inspiration for their designs. Yet, across the industry and around the world, modelling remains one of the most emotionally challenging career paths out there, regardless of the market. We spoke to ten models from across the globe about their experiences when it comes to body image, confidence and support – and here’s what they had to say.
Gilchrist Miguel Emeremgini
Nigerian Model
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
It’s a little bit of both confidence and insecurity, really. I think the real danger is in the fact that a model’s confidence level becomes reliant on how well their career is going and, unfortunately, I’m no exception. I feel more confident when I’m booking the big jobs.
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On body image struggles…
Growing up I did struggle with my body image. I was noticeably smaller than my peers, and was often bullied and given nicknames as a result. Children can be mean. I started hitting the gym when I was 15, but I had to stop when I started modelling. Now I’m mostly concerned about whether I’m the right weight, if my face is chiselled enough, and so on. It’s quite exhausting.
One time I felt support from someone in my industry was when…
I had a heartfelt conversation with my agent during a season that had been very difficult for me, and she assured me that there were better days ahead.
Kelly Knox
British Model and Body Diversity Activist
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
Being in an industry which is all about perfection, fantasy and aesthetics can really affect self-confidence. Humans with bodies like mine do not fit the beauty ideal, especially when I first started modelling in 2008.
There was literally no one like me in magazines, fashion campaigns, on the catwalk – I knew I had work to do, but that fired my passion even more. We are all worthy of representation, and beauty is never one-dimensional. Back then, I felt labelled, marginalised, boxed in, disabled (by the industry, not by my arm). It stripped me of my beauty and confidence.
Because of Instagram, more disabled people are taking back their power, reclaiming their beauty and being their own muse, on their own platform. There have been some changes within the industry, but representation of bodies like mine is still not at the forefront, not happening often enough.
Now, years later… Having worked in the industry for a number of years, now older, wiser, experienced, plus becoming a mother, fully owning and embodying my beauty and worth, with frequency – I am confident. Yet I would say this is because of the inner work, not because of the industry. I still don’t feel fully welcome.
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On body image struggles…
Having a visual or physical impairment means you really have to work on loving, accepting, embracing, celebrating your different, unique, imperfect and flawed body. I struggled for a time as a teenager, like all teenagers do. I remember thinking to myself: “My arm is not going to suddenly grow, I need to accept myself how I am.”
Then, when I first started modelling, it started again. It was so tough to make a disability visible in the industry. But I never gave up because I believed in myself and in what I wanted to achieve, not just for myself on a personal level, but for the industry and, most importantly, humanity.
Self-love is our birthright. With representation of all bodies, we all just might be more accepting of ourselves and each other.
One time I felt support from someone in my industry was when…
I got booked for a high-street fashion campaign, and the image was the most liked image on the brand’s Instagram page. The icing on the cake was when a parent of a child born with an arm like mine saw the image on a billboard and took a photo of her little girl sitting in front of it. She messaged me to thank me for being the representation her little girl needs.
It would be a dream to star in a major high-fashion or beauty campaign. Book me!
Alexandra Kutas
Ukrainian Model – First Runway Model in a Wheelchair
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
It has definitely made me more confident. Being in front of the camera with a highly professional team always makes me feel more alive and in tune with my emotions. I believe that, through modelling, I’ve realised the full beauty of being myself and being able to express all my different feelings.
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On body image struggles…
Motherhood transformed my struggles with body image. In 2020, I gave birth to a beautiful baby, Sofia. Going through the pregnancy and breastfeeding was an incredible self-discovery, I did not think before how strong and capable my body is. This experience, in the end, made me feel very grateful for my body. Of course, there are still days when I wish I could lose a couple of kilos I’ve gained in the last two years. I guess it’s just the price of being a woman, you always feel like you can do better.
One time I felt support from someone in my industry was when…
There were so many times when I felt support from professionals in the industry. Especially at the beginning of my career, there were so many incredibly talented photographers and makeup artists who believed in me and wanted to create projects together. They helped me so much in building my portfolio and growing my confidence. The unspeakable support I felt was from Fedir Vozianov, a legendary Ukrainian fashion designer, who changed history and invited me to be a central model for his runway show in Kyiv in 2017. It was featured in more than 60 countries around the world. It breaks my heart that all these wonderful people, my friends and relatives, have to fight for their lives every day due to the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine this year. I’ve started the Dnipro River Foundation to support my hometown and forcefully displaced Ukrainians.
Jin Choi
Korean Model and Longboarder
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
I feel confident during periods where I have work, but at times where I don’t get much work, I worry about my future and the longevity of my career.
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On dealing with negative comments…
I haven’t had negative comments from the people I work with, but I do get negative comments online. I tend to deal with it by eating food that I enjoy.
One thing I do to boost my confidence…
I look at other models and their work. It helps me think about my own success and how far I’ve come. It helps to reinforce my own ability and potential.
Lavitesh Veer Singh
Indian Model
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
It has made me much more established and confident than before, and I am thankful for this, as I became a model to prove to myself that I could also look good. Once I became a model, I didn’t only prove it to myself, but to the whole world. A lot of people looked down on me before this, and now they claim to be my biggest supporters!
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One thing I do to boost my confidence…
I wear confidence to feel confident. If sometimes I’m not confident, then I fake it ‘til I make it.
One time I felt support from someone in my industry was when…
I joined an agency which was unable to give me work for 8 months. My friend, a senior designer named Rohit Gandhi, noticed it and spoke to them so they’d release me, which they were reluctant to do, since before joining that agency I was featured in Vogue, Brides Today India and other magazines and was working with good designers.
I will always be thankful to Rohit Gandhi for that!
Naimah Terry
American Plus-Size Model and Fit Expert
On dealing with food and diet issues…
I have been blessed with this body and these curves. I have never had to intentionally gain or lose weight to maintain my clients. I walk a lot and drink plenty of water daily, and that helps even if I don’t work out consistently. But as I’m getting older, I’m realising it’s very important to maintain a consistent workout regime and to eat cleaner!
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On dealing with negative comments…
I do the inner work! I’m so whole on the inside, my confidence radiates through me! I have thick skin! You have to in this industry, or you will internalise every little remark anyone has said about you. But then you have to remember this client, agent or whoever booked you for a reason. They want you! They love your look! And it’s your job as a model to be moulded into their vision for that shoot, that collection, that season.
One thing I do to boost my confidence…
I travel this world and I walk around different cities and I see the beauty in everything. Whether it’s a stranger or a building, I look for the beauty in things and people and I absorb that moment, that energy, that feeling, and it becomes a part of me. Get outside and feel the beautiful energy of this world, and tap into it when you’re feeling low!
Luisa Pérez
Colombian Model
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
At the beginning, I think I started to doubt myself in certain points I had never given thought to before, and I guess the way industry works in Colombia made me start asking myself if I was good enough to make it. Was I tall enough? Would they like me more if I straightened my hair? Are my hips too big (before, that was the part of my body I loved the most)? But, also, after a while I understood that’s exactly what makes me different, and what some people don’t like about you is exactly what others will love. I really can say it makes me much more confident about myself and what I am.
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On dealing with negative comments…
It could be weird, but I never realise I am being criticised the moment it happens, probably because sometimes the comments are so aggressive that it is too shocking to process. I feel super lucky I never got any of those aggressive comments at the beginning of my career, because they would probably have hurt me more.
One time, a Colombian agent dropped this comment in a phone call: “That picture where you look so ugly?” She was talking about one of my polaroids that now international agencies use the most, and yeah, of course it was me with no makeup and my natural hair. But in that moment of my career I was just so confident about myself and what I could achieve if I kept working hard, so I just let it go and I thought that even if I was too ugly for her, that was fine. But, for sure, I am still trying to figure out how to deal with all of that.
One time I felt support from someone in my industry…
I had a job with a model I admire so much, and afterwards she gave me advice and encouraged me to look for international agencies. Just a short conversation made all the difference for me and the confidence in my work.
Cezary Cieślak
Polish Model
On body image struggles…
I have struggled with body image, and I am still struggling. But right now I am closer to body positivity than body negativity. I used to think a lot about my flaws, but nowadays, I almost own them, and I am so happy about that. Reaching the point when you own your flaws and can use them as your superpower is super cool, and I highly recommend it to everyone, because all of these are just perfect imperfections.
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Childhood can be tough, and it’s a really hard time that brings lots of questions we do not know the answers to. So when some kids tell you that something is wrong with you, you start to think it might actually be true. The question comes, and you start building these misconceptions and, over time, they get stronger. Especially when you are alone without knowing how to ask for help. I would have never had problems with body image if I could talk with little me from the past. I just needed someone to explain things to me.
On dealing with food and diet issues…
I don’t really struggle with dieting. I am into a healthy lifestyle, so I know good food makes my spirit, body and mind happy. Moreover, the 80/20 method, which is 80% healthy food and 20% trying new things or some fast food, can keep you in the right mindset. I love bananas and watermelons.
One thing I do to boost my confidence…
I would say that I challenge myself. Every time I feel that I want to do something new, I go do it. This is a challenge for me, because I used to be a really shy and insecure person.Challenging myself means no stagnation, only progress.
Fernanda Abbott
Brazilian Model
On the effects of the modelling industry as a whole…
I started modelling when I was 15, so I was very young, naive and shy. Working made me less shy and tough, you kinda build a thick skin to go through everything. At the agencies, and at jobs, people will be mean, so confidence is key. So now I feel confident and I try to not listen to negative comments about myself.
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On dealing with negative comments…
Negative comments are more about who says it than about the one who is listening to it. But I try to put it into perspective: is it something that I agree with, that I should really change, like a growth critic, or is it just a passive aggressive comment? I’m confident and secure enough to differentiate.
One thing I do to boost my confidence…
I like to feel prepared. When I go to work, I have everything you could need in a photoshoot in my bag. I like to dress up. I exercise and eat healthy as much as possible. And the most important thing is, I try to connect with my spiritual side every day. It doesn’t matter your beliefs or religion, when the outside, material world is getting to you, it’s what you have inside that will comfort and calm you through.
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